Chapter 1
Blood dripped down into the sink. It dripped in a monotonous tempo, creating a small stream flowing down the drain. Plump drops of tears interrupted the stream. She set the razor down, her fingers spotted with the blood from her arm. Her arm was shaking with each sobbing breath she took in. Streams of blood ran down her arm, dropping off little splatters of blood onto the floor and sink. She let out a shuddering breath, tears streaming down her face. The bathroom door opened. A man with spiked red hair and tattoos grabbed her hand with the razor.
"The fuck are you doing?"
"Let me go."
"Give me the fucking razor!" He wretched it out of her hand and pushed her against the wall, holding her bleeding arm in his hand tightly.
"You think this will get you sympathy?! Huh?? Don't make me fucking laugh." He moved the razor to her throat, his face just above her. His cold eyes glared down at hers.
"Bandage yourself up and get your ass out here, Shizuko. I'm not going to have the fucking paramedics come here to find a suicidel drug bitch," He snapped. He released her and wiped the razor off on his pants leg. She sank to her knees as he exited and slammed the door shut. Blood seeped into her shirt, staining it. She held her wrist to her lips and kissed it. Blood ran down her chin. The door opened again. Another man came in, one with a black mohawk and chained pants. He bent down next to her and held out a bottle to her wrist, pouring the drink down it. The liquid washed most of the blood away. She let out a cry of pain as the alcohol attacked her scars. He put the bottle to her lips and tipped it, letting the liquid flow in. She gulped it down, trying to escape. He leaned in and licked her wrist, then replaced the bottle with his own lips. He buried his free hand into her black hair. She put a hand on the bottle he held and brought it to her lips again.
It was the first day of the new high school year. The campus was filled with happiness, blossoms falling from the trees and being carried by the wind fluttered across the sky. Unfortunately, it was a school that was famous for law breaking and criminal acts. Police were stationed at each corner of the school, a few wandering around in the building. The students ignored them, as always, concentrating on what class they would be in that year. The billboard filled with names and lists of where people go was crowded with students. Most of them were cheering in happiness to be in the same class as their friends. Others were concealing moans of grief, seeing that they were with their worst enemies. A fine black car pulled up, three teens climbed out. One was a fourth year, one was a third year, and the last was a second year. Three siblings; all of them very close. Temari, Konkuro and Gaara Sabaku. Temari was smug with everyone she met but motherly to her brothers. Konkuro was a rebel who will was hotheaded but very protective of his little brother and older sister. Gaara was much less open that his siblings. He was cold to people he didn't like, he was secretive and didn't tell his siblings everything like they did to him, and he was considered the evil creature of the school. As a child, Gaara was treated poorly by his peers, it reflected in his behavior, making him cold towards a lot of people; even his family. They made their way to the board, searching for their names.
"Oh, man! I'm stuck with the gang again this year. Gez! You'd think they'd learn to seperate thugs from class, oh well! I guess I can live with it!," Konkuro said sarcastically. He let out a sigh. Temari smirked.
"With my girlfriends again this year." Gaara didn't care who he was with, he just saw where he was to go and accepted it. A girl with black hair stood next to him, looking down at the list. She was pale, almost sickly, and kept her arms crossed over her chest. She was wearing her sleeves down instead of rolled up like most of the girls. Her eyes were flickering to and fro at each sound made. Gaara peered at her and sighed.
"Temari, Konkuro, let's go," He growled
"Oh, go on ahead. I'm gonna stay back here. Gonna talk to some friends of mine." He parted with them. Temari and Gaara left with those that were dispersing. The crowd began to thin out, everyone knew what time the bells rang. Gaara looked over his shoulder at the girl who had stood next to him before. She had her arms against her chest, Konkuro standing in front of her. He looked very serious and looked like he was pissed. He said something to her, she said one thing; and he laughed. His friends were standing around the girl as well. She seemed afraid, yet completely used to it. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her along, making her shumble. She didn't seem to want to go with him. Another boy with red hair came up to Konkuro, stopping him from pulling her along. Two other girls were behind him. Two blondes. He said something to Konkuro, then pulled the girl under his arm roughly to him. The two blondes snuggled up to Konkuro in return. Gaara turned his head back and stared at the air in front of him.
If he brings any of those asses home, I'm going to have deal with them. He entered the building and headed to his room.
The bell rang, announcing the beginning of class. Gaara was sitting in the back, not wanting to mix in with anyone else. The girl he saw before was sitting nex to him, by the window. She was staring out of it, her eyes glazed and hands shaking. He didn't really care what was happening in her personal life, but seeing someone shake for no reason was stupid.
Unless she's one of those who's afraid of me. He sighed and took out a book, not wanting to involve himself with the matter. A boy with longer blonde hair in a ponytail stood at her desk and leaned over her, whispering something into her ear. He pulled out a bag from his pocket and put it on her desk. He seemed mad. He was digging his finger into the bag, stabbing at it over and over again. She seemed a bit afraid, trying to explain something to her. He grabbed her collar in anger and began to go at her, cussing and insulting her. Gaara couldn't ignore it any longer. He stood up and tapped his shoulder. He pushed her back in her seat and faced Gaara.
"What do you want, freak?" Gaara's eyes narrowed.
"Picking a fight won't get you anywhere..." He growled. The blonde smirked.
"You don't know me, do you, freak? I'm Deidara. You know, I'm in real close ties with the gang leader of this school. So I suggest you just lay off and sit back down," He murmured. The girls eyes flickered from Deidara to Gaara. She reached out then quickly recoilled; she knew better. Gaara grabbed Deidara's neck, squeezing it tight.
"You don't know me, do you, Deidara? I'm Gaara Sabaku. If you want to fight me, then during lunch will be just fine with me." His eyes burned into Deidara's. He was too soft to stand Gaara's glare. Gaara pushed him back and watched him leave. He looked down at her.
"What's your name?" She flinched.
"Shizuko Kikoshi," She answered, timid. He nodded.
"Do you know who I am?" She nodded.
"Then I'm surprised you're sitting back here." She lowered her eyes, trying to retreat into an invisible hole. Gaara sat back down in his seat.
"You're not really going to fight him are you?" She asked softly. He nodded.
"I don't lie." She jumped at him.
"You really shouldn't! He'll play dirty and get others to join in! Deidara isn't someone who will willingly fight someone one on one. You'll really get hurt." Gaara opened his book back up, ignoring her. She grabbed his arm, his eyes flashed to hers; meaning to make her back down. But she wasn't going to, her eyes were concerned. He could tell that she was tired and stressed just from her eyes.
"Let go of me," He growled. Shizuko didn't back down still. He closed his book, his eyes burning into hers.
"I said, let... me... go." She kept her eyes on Gaara.
"You can't scare me. If you hit me, I don't care. I'm used to it," She answered. Gaara jerked his arm out of her hand. She recoiled to her seat again and stared out the window, concern on her face.
"It's not your problem anyways..." He muttered.
Lunch came around, Gaara was still keeping to his word. He went outside behind the school, waiting for Deidara. After a few minutes, Deidara showed up with a whole gang. Even Konkuro was there, hidden in the back; most likely not wanting to be seen by his little brother. Gaara stood patiently, not showing any signs of emotion on his face. A few girls were with them as well; most likely girlfriends of a few of the thugs. Deidara walked forward, pointing at Gaara.
"He's the one! He picked a fight with me and insulted me, un!" A red hair boy with pierceings all over his face stared at Gaara.
"That's unfortunate, Deidara."
"Yeah! He should pay right!? Un!" He glared at Gaara, a grin on his face.
"Sure. We'll watch Deidara. We'll watch," He said. Deidara's face fell.
"What?! You'll watch, Pein-san?? I have to do this by myself, un!?"
"You idiot, Deidara, that's Gaara. He's not a geek who has no idea how to hold his dick," Kisame said, grinning.
"You'll do fine though... if things get too rough, maybe I'll help..." Kakuzu grinned, his scars on his jaw stretching with his smile. Gaara kept his eyes fixed on Deidara. He could see someone hiding behind Pein. It wasn't someone he didn't know, it was Shizuko. She seemed scared to see Gaara right now. Deidara growled and got himself ready, yelling at Gaara. Gaara's eyes drifted to where Shizuko was. Pein reached around and pulled her out from behind her, roughly tugging on her left wrist, making her cry in pain. Deidara leapt at Gaara; he barely had time to defend himself. He raised his arms and pushed Deidara back. Deidara flew at Gaara, trying to force him to the ground. Gaara grabbed Deidara's hair and kneed him in the face. He elbowed him in the back and made Deidara lay on his belly. He brought one arm back and began to bend it. Deidara yelled in pain, trying to free himself.
"Fucker!! Get off! Ahhh!" Gaara heard a knife click behind him. He rolled to the side just as the blade slashed at where his neck was. He got to his feet, Kakuzu was grinning. Deidara held his arm, glaring at Gaara.
"I'm gonna kill him!"
"Come on Gaara, not afraid of a knife are you?" Gaara dodged his attack and tried to kick his knees out. He heard Shizuko yelling at Pein to make them stop.
"Is it nessecary to involve someone else!? It's just Deidara's fight! Make Kakuzu stop!!" She yelled. Pein ignored her. She stared at the fight, frightened Gaara would get nearly killed. Kakuzu managed to land a foot on Gaara's nose. He fell back. Deidara jumped on top of him and began delivering punches, one right after the other.
"Haha! Not so tough now are you?!" He yelled. Shizuko ran forward and tackled Deidara.
"Get off of him!!" She screamed. Almost everyone got a thrill from the scene. Deidara smacked Shizuko.
"Damn bitch!!" He pushed her away and went back to Gaara. Shizuko grabbed his ankle and pulled him down. Kakuzu grabbed Gaara, holding the knife at his stomach.
"Ready for some blood?" He hissed. Shizuko leapt to her feet and pushed Kakuzu away from Gaara. He grabbed her hair.
"Get the fuck out of the way!" He yelled. She pushed and smacked him, trying to escape. Gaara was recovering from the blows he had recieved.
"What's your deal with him, huh? He's just some god damn punk that's pissing us off! Back down, bitch!" He snapped, pushing to the ground. He moved to Gaara again, Shizumo leapt up and grabbed his hand that held the knife. He growled and slapped her. She let out a breath, her eyes wide. He froze. Everyone was silent. Shizuko fell to her knees, a hand over her stomach. A red stain quickly appeared on her uniform. Gaara took in a breath of air. He had stabbed her. She coughed and doubled over. Kakuzu put his blade away.
"Tch... serves her right..." Pein grabbed Kakuzu's face and slammed him to the ground. Rage was across his face. Gaara put a hand on Shizuko's back. She was shuddering in pain, each cough she made brought more blood from her lips. He wanted to throw himself at them all, his anger was starting to burn up inside of him.
"The hell is wrong with you?" Pein growled, glaring at Kakuzu. Pein's words had snapped Gaara a bit out of his rage. Konkuro had disappeared. Pein picked up Shizuko. He stared down at Gaara.
"Gaara, Shizuko protected you because she finds a friend in you. Usually she's quiet puppet. You'd better be thankful." He walked off, quickly so to get her to a hospital without calling attention to the guards. His gang followed him, Deidara complained but followed. Gaara saw some of her blood on the ground. He ran in fingers through it.
A friend? You must be joking... no one can just see me as a friend so easily... Then again... He remembered how Deidara had treated her and how Gaara had stopped him.
Maybe she's just not used to being protected like that... She must usually be treated so poorly. He stood up and wiped his clothes off. He still had signs of a fight on his face, bruises were quick to forming on his skin. He made his way back to school, in a fowl mood. Gaara took notice that there were hardly any guards in the back of the school; the gang must be pretty friendly with them. It angered him even more, knowing that the authorities were useless at the school.
The end of the day came around. Gaara spent most of his time hunting for his brother to question him. When he had gone to his classes, he noticed that not even the teachers took much care to worry where Shizuko was. He was determined what exactly was going on. Most everywhere he went, people avoided him, not only was he notoriously 'evil', but he was still beat up from the fight. Finally, he found his brother, coming out of the bathroom. He shoved him back in and locked the door.
"Gaara!" Konkuro exclaimed, a bit suprised at the sudden action.
"What the hell were you doing with them?" Gaara growled. Konkuro gulped and averted his eyes from his little brother.
"Who? Who are you talking about?"
"Who?? You know exactly who I'm talking about, moron. Pein and his companions. I saw you with them, Konkuro." Gaara had finally cornered Konkuro to admit.
"Yes, I was with them, alright?! But, I didn't realize that they were going to go after you like that-!"
"I don't care about that, Konkuro. What I care about is that Shizuko wasn't helped at all until after she was stabbed. If that didn't happen, then I would be focusing on killing you right now. So tell me, when did you run off?"
"Well... I didn't see that whole ordeal happen... I think it was right after Deidara and you started to fight, I'm really sorry I didn't-"
"Shut up. God dammit, Konkuro!! Do you have any idea why she was treated like that?" He slammed his brother up against the wall, his eyes drilling into his.
"Wha?"
"Shizuko!! Why was she stabbed so carelessly!? That asshole, Kakuzu, stabbed her because she was trying to stop him from stabbing me! And the only one who stepped in was Pein, the ringleader. Why is she treated like that? Why, Konkuro?! Tell me!"
"Gaara! I-!"
"Tell me now!" He pressed his hands tight against his brothers throat. Konkuro struggled, fear in his eyes. Gaara was demanding an answer that Konkuro didn't want to give.
"Shizuko, ah! Dammit, I'm not sure why!!" He yelled. Gaara growled and squeezed tighter.
"Just tell me what you think..." He growled. Gaara released his brother. Konkuro took in a breath, bending over to catch some air. He kept his eyes to the floor.
"Well... she... uh... I don't know much about her Gaara! I only joined the gang my first year here!" He snapped.
"Just fucking tell me," He growled. Konkuro stood up and scratched his head.
"Shizuko... she a drug... addict..." Gaara hesitated.
"What does that have to do with anything? I heard they all did drugs." Konkuro shook his head.
"I don't know... I guess it's just reasons behind it. From everything I heard from them, she's a hopeless addict. Oh, one of those addicts who does drugs to... escape from something."
"Escape?" Gaara narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah..."
"Do you know what she's 'escaping' from?"
"I don't know, Gaara! I honestly don't! It's one of the secrets that only older members know! I think, uh... she lost someone. Really important, I'm not sure, Gaara!" Gaara paced around the bathroom, still in a fowl mood.
"Where is she?" He asked. Konkuro studdered for an answer.
"Where?!" He snapped.
"The hospital down the street. I think Pein-san is there too," He said quickly. Gaara grabbed the doorknob to open the door, it was still locked. He was still so upset that he didn't take time to unlock it, he simple raised his leg and brought his foot through the lock; flinging the door open. He stormed down the hallway and out the door. The guard at the gate stopped him and demanded the reason why he was leaving before school ended. Gaara glared at him and gave him a swift punch to the face and slammed his foot into his stomach. He left, running down the street to the hospital. It came into view quickly. He ran through the doors and went to the nurse at the desk in front.
"Where is Shizuko Kikoshi's room?" He asked. She flipped scrolled through the list on her computer and found the name.
"Um... room... 317. But she having surgery, no visitors- hey!! You can't go into her room!" The nurse shouted at his back. Gaara found the stairs and flew up them.
She took the time to save my ass from getting stabbed, the least I can do is check on her. I also need to find out why no one stepped in until... He reached the third floor and ran down the hall. He slowed to a walk and looked at each room number. He found her room, Pein was sitting on the bench across from it, his eyes closed. The door was closed, but not locked. Gaara reached for the handle.
"You can't go in there, Gaara," Pein said, opening his eyes.
"And why not?" He growled.
"They're operating in there. I don't want the doctors to get distracted by your unwanted intrusion." Gaara turned towards Pein. Pein stood up, keeping his face calm and eyes on Gaara.
"I suppose you want to ask something? You're not the type to just randomly visit someone who saved you in a fight. Normally, from what I heard, you would come across them after a while and insult them until they no longer wished to be near you." Gaara walked slowly up to Pein, he was a few inches shorter than him, but Gaara kept firm and made himself larger than he seemed.
"I do have a few questions. And they do concern Shizuko."
"Are you wondering why she saved you?"
"Yes, actually, I am. No one, I mean no one, would ever protect me like that." Pein smirked.
"If I told you, you would only understand half of it."
"Then tell me this, I heard from my brother, Konkuro, that she lost someone important to her a while back." Pein's eyes widened a bit, then immediately went back to the way they were.
"Yes. She did."
"What happened then? Who was it?" Pein closed his eyes.
"I'm not the one to tell you that. You have to asked Shizuko herself."
"I'm not going to ask her about something that would probably kill her a little inside. I want you to tell me." Pein smirked.
"Well, all I'll say is that someone loved her, she loved them, and they died in front of her eyes a very painful death just to save her. You must have reminded her of them, or else she would have just watched you get stabbed and killed like she usually does at any of our fights. Shizuko is usually a puppet, one who just stands around and has no emotion. A puppet, really."
"Why are you so protective of her? I saw how you acted right when got stabbed." Pein sat back down, sighing.
"Well, the person she lost was a close friend of mine. She's all that's left of them. She's also someone I vowed to protect. It makes me stronger in my fights." Gaara glanced at the door, wondering if Shizuko would be alright.
"I also she was a drug addict, one that uses drugs to escape reality. If you protect her, then why don't you keep her from using drugs." Pein pulled Gaara down to his level, rage in his eyes.
"That insults my pride. I try everything in my power to protect her. She uses drugs when I don't see her or when I'm not around her. She only does it to escape the pain she has in her heart from when she saw him die," He growled. He pushed Gaara back and stood up, a doctor walked out of the operating room, some blood on his hands.
"Well, she's making a recovery. The wound wasn't vital, it just triggered a little bit of internal bleeding, nothing major that wasn't a problem. The only thing that concerns me is that, uh... she was having a few aneamic episodes while on the operating table. She was close to dying because she had lost so much blood. But she didn't lose it from the stab wound. Does she have an aneamic history...?" He asked. He eyed Pein. Pein shook his head.
"I'm certain you saw the reasons why on her body." The doctor bowed his head.
"I see... well, she's making a recovery. She'll be in here for a week, maybe two. You can go in after we're done cleaning up," He said. The doctor went back into the room. Gaara eyed Pein.
"Aneamic? What's on her body?" He asked. Pein glared at Gaara.
"You ask a lot of quesitons, don't you?"
"I want to know about who saved me from getting stabbed." Pein growled and leaned in towards Gaara, whispering into his ear.
"Her depression drives her to cut herself. I believe she wants to join the one she lost..." He murmured. Gaara clenched his fists. He knows that pain. He still had faint scars from when he went through the pain of becoming an outcast and being called a monster.
"I see..." He said. Pein watched the nurses and doctors pull out of the room one by one. After they had all left, he went in. Gaara went in behind him. Shizuko was breathing softly, staring out the window. Pein knelt down next to her and petted her hair, whispering to her. Gaara listened to what he said carefully.
"You're alright now, they fixed you. No more blood, Shizuko. No more blood... You're staying with us..." She let reached out to Pein, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Where is he?" She cried softly. Pein lightly grasped her hand.
"He's not here, Shizuko, remember?"
"Where is he? Why isn't he here?" She cried, more tears spilling.
"He's at home... he's wishing for your health." She closed her eyes and started to sob. Pein stood up and looked at Gaara.
"Do you want to question her now, Gaara?" He said sourly. Gaara let out a breath and kept his eyes on the sobbing Shizuko. Pein bent over her and whispered to her again.
"I have to go, Shizuko. I'll be here everyday to visit you. Get better. No more blood." He left her to cry into her pillow. Pein pushed passed Gaara and went out the door. Gaara stood by her bedside, opposite of where Pein was. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. She froze and turned her head.
"Is it you?" She whispered. Her eyes were wide with hope, tears still swelling in them. He shook his head.
"No... I'm not him, Shizuko." She let out a cry. He knelt down and kept his eyes on her. He was an alien to this situation, he wasn't sure as of what to say.
"I'm Gaara Sabaku. Shizuko, you saved me, before. I'm thankful."
"Gaara...?" She whispered, her eyes staring into his. He nodded.
"Yes. Usually... no one tries to help me. I'm an outcast, just another monster everyone hates." She put a hand on his cheek.
"You... remind me of him..." She murmured. Gaara's face flushed a bit.
"H... him? Who... who is him?" She bit her lip, a few tears spilling from her eyes.
"Itachi..." She breathed. She rolled over into her pillow and let out a howl of misery. She sobbed and wept, her back moving up and down with each cry. Gaara was hesitating to do anything, he didn't know what to do.
"Shizuko, it's alright! I'm sorry. I'm sorry I brought him up, I'm sorry-" She gripped the collar of his shirt, her arm pulling him closer to him.
"Please... I don't want to be alone...!" She cried. Her body was shaking pain and sorrow. Gaara paused, an unsure expression on his face. Then, with gentle arms, he hugged her, comforting her in her grief.
"You're not alone... Shizuko..." She clung to him, crying into his shirt, her misery ringing throughout the room. A nurse opened the door, concerned of the commotion she had heard.
"Is everything alright?" She asked timidly. Gaara rocked Shizuko back and forth slowly. Her crying was still going, her sobs muffled by his shirt.
"Could you leave us alone, please?" He asked softly. She realized she had made a mistake to intrude on them and quietly closed the door. He closed his eyes and kept her close to him until her sobbing began to die down. It took a good half hour for Shizuko to calm herself. She was only choking on her tears from the pain that had erupted in her wound from her episode. Gaara gently released himself from her and laid her down on the bed. He still sat beside her, waiting for when she was asleep or ready to be alone. She grabbed ahold of his wrist and squeezed it tight, her eyes were gazing out the window, tearstains still on her cheeks. She was silent, but Gaara knew she was only surpressing what she wanted to say. The entire room was silent, the hum of the air conditioner and the machines in the room were the only things making noise. Shizuko finally let go of Gaara's hand, slowly moving it to the side, until only the sides of their hands touched. He stood up, knowing he should leave, and went to the door. He casted one last glance to her, the tearstains on her cheeks made Gaara's heart feel heavy, but the warmth he felt during their embrace was still with him. He left in silence.
